Late rally propels ND women past Bulls

TAMPA, Fla. — Call it heart, resiliency or just pure guts, but this Notre Dame womenÂ?s basketball team is carving out its legacy with comebacks.

Notre Dame, trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half, fought its way to an 86-79 Big East Conference victory against South Florida on Tuesday night at the Sun Dome.

Senior guard Lindsay Schrader, who hadnÂ?t scored in double figures in her last three games nor in five of her last six games, powered the Irish with a season-high 26 points. Becca Bruszewski added 20 points for the Irish.

Notre Dame, stung for 52 first-half points by the Bulls, rallied to tie the score at 57-57 with 13:35 left. The Bulls answered with a 5-0 run for a 62-57 edge, but the Irish scraped back to take the lead at 65-64 on a pair of free throws by Natalie Novosel with 10:08 left in the game.

Notre Dame received a huge break with 3:28 left in the game and the score tied at 75-75. South FloridaÂ?s Porche Grant was called for a personal foul on an offensive rebound by Bruszewski. Grant was also called for technical foul for throwing an elbow at Bruszewski. It was a turn of events that led to an 8-0 Irish run and an 83-75 Notre Dame lead with 2:24 left.

From there, the Irish then hung on to wrap up the victory. Notre Dame, No. 22 in the coaches poll and No. 24 in the Associated Press poll, is 18-6 overall and 7-5 in the Big East. South Florida is 18-8 overall and 5-7 in league play.

Next up for the Irish is a game Sunday at unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Connecticut.